Almaty is described by the Lonely Planet as being the highlight of Central Asia – which makes me think maybe the Lonely Planet authors haven’t been to Central Asia. Old dull former-Soviet-concrete and without enough wow factor to get close to the likes of the highlights in the rest of this region.
That being said though, there are some things that are definitely worth doing and its nice to walk through some of the streets which feel more European in style and vibe than Asian. I’ll only provide a short entry here as, of the two times I’ve been, one was quite some time ago (2008) and the other a bit of a lash / partying blur. I’d suggest though giving yourself a full day and checking out:
- The picture perfect Zenkov’s Cathedral – gorgeous and sits within the pretty Panfilovtsev Park. I visited in summer and autumn, but I’ve seen photos of the cathedral in winter with the snow and looks stunning.
- The views from Kok-Tobe Hill are worth taking the cable car up for – and you can often get to the Golden Eagles there which is cool.
- The Arasan Bathhouse – a great for experiencing the Russian-style thrashing with the birch branches.
- In the evening, if up for a big night, make sure to visit Sky Bar – located on the roof of an old factory, it’s split into various themed sections and is great fun. Might be one of the best clubs I’ve been to.